Q: Is there any way to get rid of ground squirrels without killing them? I have used black and cayenne pepper. It helps for a while, but they still return.

A: Ground squirrels are cute, little furry animals and most people do not want to kill them, even when they are damaging plants or property. Unfortunately, repellents and frightening devices only work temporarily, or not at all. They will not make a ground squirrel leave its burrow, or permanently avoid an area.

Removing brush piles and debris will make an area less attractive to ground squirrels. Hawks, coyotes, rattlesnakes and other predators eat ground squirrels, but they rarely catch all of them, and their presence may not be welcome near homes. A pet dog may keep squirrels out of your yard, but it won’t get rid of an established population.

There can be dozens of animals in a ground squirrel colony. They live in open burrows and usually forage within a 75-yard radius, but can travel further in search of food. They will gnaw on plastic irrigation systems, and their burrowing activity can undermine structures. Dense populations can harbor diseases like bubonic plague, which is spread to humans by fleas.

Ground squirrels damaging plants or property can be controlled by any legal manner. They can be killed with poison bait, lethal traps and fumigation of burrows in late winter. Live catch traps are not recommended since they pose a problem of how to dispose of squirrels that are caught. They cannot legally be released in other areas without a permit. More information on these control methods can be found at

Q: I grow hyacinth beans and eat them cooked in soup. A friend told me they might be toxic. Is this true?

A: The hyacinth bean, Dolichos lablab, is usually grown here as an ornamental for its attractive flowers and purple pods. In some parts of the world it is grown for food. Eating a few cooked pods may not be harmful, but the pods and seed may be toxic if a large quantity is eaten raw. They contain a compound (cyanogenic glycoside) that releases hydrogen cyanide when the fresh plant material is chewed and eaten.

Healthy adults can tolerate a low concentration of cyanide, but high exposure can prove fatal. Eating raw beans can produce a variety of symptoms, including weakness, vomiting, labored breathing, twitching, stupor, convulsions and coma, according to the California Poison Control System, (800) 222-1222.

After I wrote about ants last month, I received a letter from G.F. in Rancho Bernardo describing another method to keep ants from coming indoors. “We have found baking soda very effective for plugging (entry points), both outside and indoors. It is also effective in breaking ant trails when you sprinkle soda on a trail. The approaching ants loose contact with those that have gone before. They become confused and turn around.”

I appreciate the tip but have a caution about using baking soda on ant trails in the garden. The product contains sodium bicarbonate, which is alkaline. If too much is applied to soil near plants, it may harm them.

Vincent Lazaneo is an urban horticulture adviser with the University of California Cooperative Extension. Send questions for “Plants & Pests” tohomeandgarden@uniontrib.com